Tray insert for packages



April 26, 1960 J. A. WICKSTROM 2,934,252

TRAY INSERT FOR PACKAGES Filed May 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.JOHN A. M06730! A TTORNEYS April 26, 1960 J. A. WICKSTROM 2,934,252 ITRAY mszar FOR PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet? Filed May 11, 1959 INVENTOR.JOHN A. .W/C/(STROAI A 7' TOPNEYS TRAY INSERT FOR PACKAGES John A.Wickstrorn, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Mothers Cake 8: CookieCo., Oakland, alif., a corporation of California Application May 11,1959, Serial No. 812,168

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-'--35) This invention relates to a tray formable froma pre-cut and scored blank which is particularly useful in the packagingof cookies and like articles requiring protection against breakage andchippage during handling after packaging.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tray insert for thesupport of articles such as cookies, which, while permitting a maximumof visibility of said articles for display purposes, is neverthelessrigid against bending, and through a relatively stiff backbone memberprevents twisting or warping of the tray and the chipping or breaka e ofsuch articles, often incident thereto.

It is a further object of this invention. to provide an insert of thecharacter described, formable without the use of adhesives or fastenersfrom a paperboard blank, the central panel of which is folded uponitself to form the rigidifying backbone, which latter is maintained inits folded condition by the overwrapping material of the package or oneor more partition members fitted over said backbone. r

Yet another object ofthis invention is to. provide a tray insert forpackages which accommodate articles of a relatively wide variety ofsizes, being particularly useful for the packaging of various sizes ofcookies.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich:

Figure l is a view in plan of a blank pre-cut and scored for forminginto a tray insert.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the insert in an intermediate stageof assembly.

Figure 3 is a View in end elevation of anassembled insert with themethod of final assembly from the stage of Figure 2 being indicated inphantom.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing one manner of use of theinsert with a transparent overwrap disposed thereabout.

Figure 5 is a view in plan of a partially filled insert, loaded as inFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a partially exploded view in perspective illustrating themanner of assembling partition members upon the tray backbone member formaintaining said backbone member in foldedcondition and for separatingarticles disposed with their faces parallel to said backbone member.

Figure? is a view similar to that of Figure 6, with a compartment of theinsert loaded in typical fashion.

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of an insert, assembled as inFigure 6, fully loaded with cookies and overwrapped with a material thecontour of whichis indicated in phantom outline.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a tray blank, generally designated10, preferably of paperboard or similar easily foldable material, whichis provided with a plurality of score lines to facilitate its assembly.Blank 10 is comprised of a rectangular central backbone panel 12 definedat either side by longitudinally extending score lines 14 and 16 and atits ends by transverse score ited States Patent Patented Apr, 26, 1960lines 18 and 20. A score line 22 extends longitudinally of panel 12mid-way between the score lines 14 and 16 bisecting star-shaped panelcut-outs 24 and 26, the midpoints of which latter trisect score line 22permitting partitioning of central panel 12 into three equal portions ashereinafter described. Rectangular side support panels 28 and 30 extendoutwardly from backbone member 12 being coextensive therewith andhingedly secured to said panel along score lines 14 and 16. At eitherend of panels 28 and 30, there are provided pairs of opposed angular endwall or hanger member locking slits 32 and 3 i, and 36 and 38 ofbiangular shape formed by transverse and oblique cuts.

Extending to the left of panel 12, as viewed in Figure 1, are a pair oftapered end wall or support panel hanger members 40 and 42, eachhingedly secured to said panel along the score line 18 and astraddle thescore line 22, as projected. Locking ears 44 and 46 are hingedly securedto members 4% and 42 along score lines 48' and St), the latterrespectively formed as extensions of score lines 14 and 16, and are slitalong their edges adjacent side panels 28 and 3% to permit their freefolding and insertion within slits 32 and 36, respectively, uponassembly of the blank into tray form.

At the opposite, or right end of panel 12, there extend end wall orsupport panel hanger members 52 and 5d, of generally rectangular shape,hingedly secured to central panel 12 along score line 20 at either sideof score line 22, as projected, and defined in part by score lines 56and 58, formed as projections of score lines 14 and 16, respectively.Locking cars 60 and 62, similar in shape and function to opposed ears 42and 46, are hingedly secured to members 52 and 54 along score lines 56and 58, respectively, being slit adjacent side support panels 28 and 30to permit their free folding andinsertion into slits 34- and 38,respectively.

In assembling the blank 10 into the intermediate stage of Figure 2, sidesupport panel members 28 and 30 and end wall members 40 and 42, and 52and 54 are upfolded into vertical positions and their respective earsthen folded about their defining score lines to lap the adjacent endportions of the panels 28 and 3d and inserted into the locking slitsprovided therein to lock the said panel members to their associated endwall members. As indicated in Figure 3, the final step in forming theinsert consists of downfolding either side of the tray about score line22. In so doing, central backbone panel 12 is folded upon itself andassumes an upstand ing position, thus becoming a double thickness rela*tively stifi and strong backbone of the tray insert and an effectivecentrally disposed divider. The tray it is now ready for loading withthe articles to be packaged in the manner of Figure 4, wherein, forpurposes of illustration, are shown cream-filled cookies 64. As thereshown, cookies 64 are disposed face to face with their diametersextending transversely of tray 10, and in tight fitting relationshipbetween the end Walls 40 and 42, and 52 and '54. In order that thecookies 64 may be adequately protected against edge chipping andbreakage, it is preferable that they not project substantially beyondthe outer margins of the tray 10 as defined by side support panels 28and 3t) and the coextensive transverse end wall, or panel supportmembers. With cookies 64 thus positioned, the tray 12 is overwrapped,preferably with a transparentfilm 66 such as cellophane, which is rathertightly drawn thereabout serving to maintain such tray in fullyassembled condition as well as to some extent rigidifying the tray.

As previously indicated, it is preferable that the diameters of thecookies 64 be of approximately the same dimension as the width of theside support panels 28 and 30, and further that such diameters besubstantially the same as the. height. of the folded backbone panel 12,thus facilitating the formation of an attractive substan: tiallyrectangular finished package when finally overwrapped with film 66. Itshould be noted that the tapered end Walls 46 and 42 offer effectivetruss-like support for panels 23 and 30 while, by virtue of their taper,at the same time permitting end viewing of the tray contents for displaypurposes. The opposite end walls 52 and 54 similarly provide panelsupport, as well as defining one end of the package. When finally madeup as in Figure 4, the package oifers considerable resistance againstwarpage or twisting through the tightly packed rows of cookies and thecoaction of the tightly wrapped film 66 with the relatively stiffbackbone panel member 12 trussed at, either end by members 40 and 42,and 525 and 54.

An important feature of the tray insert of this invention is its readyadaptability to handling cookies of substantially different diameterswhile nevertheless oifering good protection against breakage andchippage and visibility for display. Thus, in Figure 8 are illustratedrelatively large cookies 63 as finally overwrapped in package film 79.The cookies 68 are disposed face to face with their diameters extendinglongitudinally of the tray, and centrally notched partition members 72are provided for receipt in the notches in the upper edge of backbonepanel member 12 formed by the star-shaped apertures 24 and 26 upon thefolding of said backbone panel member. When assembled, partition members72 and 74 extend transversely of tray 10, at their lower ends abuttingthe side support panels 28 and 30 and dividing the tray into sixsubstantially similar compartments.

In addition to serving as dividers, members 72 and 74 serve to maintainthe backbone panel 12 in folded condition and act as stiffeners addingrigidity to the tray and preventing the aforementioned undesirable traywarpage. The cookies 68, when positioned as in Figure 8, of course donot offer the resistance to tray warpage occasioned by their positioningas in Figure 4, and in fact, without the partition members 72 and 74would be susceptible to edge breaking and chippage from twisting forcesexerted upon the package tray. The protection offered by the members 72and 74 is therefore readily apparent.

After setting up the tray in the manner previously described andthereafter assembling the partitions astraddle backbone member 12, thetray It is filled with cookies 68 in the fashion of Figure 7 and thefilled tray then overwrapped with a preferably transparent film 70, suchas cellophane, to assume the contour shown in phantom in Figure 8. It ispreferable that the vertical dimensions of members 72 and 74 besubstantially the same as the diameters of the upright cookies 68 tofacilitate the forming of an attractive package with a relatively smoothtop contour defined at either end in part by the end rows of cookies.

It is apparent that the package of Figure 8 is particularly satisfactoryfor display, since not only the edges, but the entire outer face of eachof the outermost cookies in each compartment is visible through thetransparent film 70.

It should be understood that the embodiment of my invention as abovedescribed may be altered, changed or modified without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A tray insert for packages formed from an integral cut and scoredfoldable blank and comprising a longitudinal backbone of doublethickness formed by folding a central panel about its longitudinal axis,a pair of side support panels hingedly secured to the lower end of thebackbone and extending outwardly and at right angles to either sidethereof, said. side upport panels each having at either end alockingslit, opposed panel hanger members hingedly secured at either endof the backbone extending outwardly and at right angles thereto toembrace the ends of the side support panel members, supporting the samein truss-like fashion and being releasably secured to said side supportpanel members through ears received in the end disposed locking slitstherein.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein, the backbone is provided withone or more notches along its upper edge for reception therein oftransverse notched partition members.

3. A tray insert for packages formed from an integral cut and scoredfoldable blank and Comprising a centrally disposed longitudinalstiffening backbone of double thickness, a pair of side support panelshaving locking slits at either end and hingedly secured to the lower endof the backbone to extend laterally and at right angles thereto, pairsof opposed end wall members hingedly secured at either end of thebackbone panel, each member of which is provided with a locking earfoldable about an axis normal to the backbone panel to fit in lockingrelationship within an associated locking slit of the side support panelto thereby provide underlying end support for said side support panel,tying the same in truss-like fashion to the backbone member.

4. A tray blank comprising a substantially rectangular central panelscored for folding upon itself and defined at its ends and sides bytransverse and longitudinal score lines, a pair of rectangular sidesupport panels hingedly secured at opposite sides of the central panelalong said longitudinal score lines, said side support panels beingprovided at either end with car-receiving slits, panel hanger membershingedly secured in pairs at either end of the central panel along thetransverse score lines for independent folding thereabout, and lockingears hingedly secured to the outer ends of each of the hanger membersalong score lines formed as end-extensions of the longitudinal scorelines.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein one or more partition receivingcutouts are provided in the central panel intermediate the side marginsand extending to either side of the central panel score line.

6. A tray blank comprising a substantially rectangular central panelfoldable about its longitudinal axis upon itself, a pair of side supportpanels hingedly secured at either side of the central panel for foldingabout axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central panel, eachof the side support panels having ear-receiving locking slits at eitherend, hanger members disposed in pairs and hingedly secured at either endof the central panel astraddle its longitudinal axis for independentfolding about axes normal thereto, and ears hingedly secured to each ofthe hanger members foldable about axes aligned with the respective axesof folding of the side panel support members, said ears when foldedbeing adapted to fit within associated locking slits in the side supportpanel members to hold said support panel members in folded condition andin right angle relationship with respect to those portions of thecentral panel adjacent thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS actmam -k

